More than 60 civil rights leaders, scholars, and community organizers from across the country gathered at the University of Chicago on June 19, to participate in the first of a series of three roundtable discussions intended to identify evidence-based policy solutions to challenges that disproportionately affect minority communities in urban America.

The series, called Urban America Forward, is hosted by the Center for the Study of Race, Politics, and Culture (CSRPC), with support from the Office of Civic Engagement.

This first roundtable focused on demographic trends, organizing and next-generation leadership, education, and poverty. The next two discussions are planned for September and December 2015. They will examine housing, juvenile justice, policing, democracy, health, technology, the environment, and infrastructure equity. The series of closed-door roundtables will culminate in a national conference in February 2016, which will be open to the public.

“Cities are the cultural, scientific and social incubators of the world. But often their populations – minorities, immigrants, young people -- are not trusted,” said Michael C. Dawson, John D. MacArthur Professor of Political Science and the College at the University of Chicago, and Founding Director of CSRPC. “We designed the Urban America Forward roundtable series to be a safe place for people to have frank and provocative conversations about solving the civil rights challenges that persist in cities across the nation.” CSRPC will document the evidence and policy solutions that emerge from the roundtables in a series of issue-specific policy briefs that will be the foundation for the national conference.

Dawson was one of several UChicago faculty and affiliated staff who presented research relevant to the designated topics of the day. The others were Cathy Cohen, David and Mary Winton Green Professor of Political Science and Chair of the Department of Political Science; Micere Keels, associate professor in the Department of Comparative Human Development; Shayne Evans, CEO of UChicago Charter School; Kerwin Charles, Deputy Dean and Edwin and Betty L. Bergman Distinguished Service Professor at Chicago Harris School of Public Policy; and Bryan Samuels, Executive Director of Chapin Hall. They were joined by civil rights leaders and young activists representing organizations from across the country, including the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, ColorofChange.org, the Dream Defenders, and BYP 100.

“The Black Lives Matter movement and the growing national dialogue about race and inequality underscore the timeliness and urgency of this roundtable series,” said Kavitha Mediratta, head of Racial Equity Programmes at the Atlantic Philanthropies. “The diversity of participants in the room, their commitment to solving urban challenges, and the interdisciplinary approaches to the issues that were discussed make me optimistic about what will be achieved.”

"Current events are a continual reminder that our nation must address the continued and dangerous disconnection between the imperatives in urban American communities and national public policy," stated Thomas A. Saenz, President and General Counsel of MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund). "A candid dialogue among academics, activists, and other policy influencers can be a critical step toward breaking this discontinuity."

“The University of Chicago’s commitment to evidence-based solutions goes hand-in-hand with our commitment to civic engagement through campus, local and national partnerships. Urban America Forward is a prime example of the kinds of initiatives and programs we’ve launched with an intent to increase educational, economic, and cultural opportunities for individuals who have traditionally lacked equal access to such opportunities,” said Derek Douglas, the University’s Vice President for Civic Engagement.

To maintain the conversation between roundtables and leading up to the national conference, participants were encouraged to document their ideas and proposed policy solutions in op-eds and blog posts, and via Twitter using the hashtag #UrbanFwd.